Who's Had to Replace a Defective MacBook Air?

[KPOM]

With all the reports of MacBook Airs with display and wake-from-sleep issues, I figure it's a good idea to take a poll to get some (unscientific) sense of how widespread this is. Feel free to post details below.

My 13" MacBook Air 2.13GHz 4GB model had the wake-from-sleep issue. About half the time it went to sleep, it would have difficulty waking up. The backlight would turn on, but the screen was blank. Sometimes keystrokes or opening and closing the lid would work after a few minutes. Other times it required powering down, and one time it took me nearly an hour to get it to come back. Apple replaced it under warranty and my replacement has been fine since. They didn't even attempt any software fixes or repairs. They just swapped machines. I still think it was probably a software issue but don't know for sure.

 

[Appleind]

With all the reports of MacBook Airs with display and wake-from-sleep issues, I figure it's a good idea to take a poll to get some (unscientific) sense of how widespread this is. Feel free to post details below.

My 13" MacBook Air 2.13GHz 4GB model had the wake-from-sleep issue. About half the time it went to sleep, it would have difficulty waking up. The backlight would turn on, but the screen was blank. Sometimes keystrokes or opening and closing the lid would work after a few minutes. Other times it required powering down, and one time it took me nearly an hour to get it to come back. Apple replaced it under warranty and my replacement has been fine since. They didn't even attempt any software fixes or repairs. They just swapped machines. I still think it was probably a software issue but don't know for sure.

All good for now but who knows

 

[elwood58]

All is well with my 11.6.

 

[potentpotable]

I know you said this poll is unscientific, but the results could still be highly misleading - users with problems generally far outweigh "loyal" users on forums.

 

[KPOM]

I know you said this poll is unscientific, but the results could still be highly misleading - users with problems generally far outweigh "loyal" users on forums.

True, but since people can vote only once, if the absolute number of problems reported is high or low (ignoring percentages) it does provide some information. As it stands right now, the majority of responders have not had issues.

 

[T4R06]

probably i am the fastest MBA 11.6 replaced here. bought in-store 2pm went home and noticed the creaking sound.. then i quickly made an appointment 11:45am and they replicate the sound. instantly they replced the unit witha new one. completely sealed. i did bring the box came with the MBA as well. (less 24hrs resolved)

 

[macmuchos]

I do have the wake from sleep problem - new 13". Random, not reliably reproduceable. About 5 times a week.

Did the Apple migration from old powerbook. I can hear the chorus "Archive and install!", and yes I can start down that road as soon as I have time. Done the easy stuff already (permissions, onyx). I thought I would give Apple a chance to find the problem and if it's hardware, replace it.

Great machine though, crazy good wifi.

 

[KPOM]

I do have the wake from sleep problem - new 13". Random, not reliably reproduceable. About 5 times a week.

Did the Apple migration from old powerbook. I can hear the chorus "Archive and install!", and yes I can start down that road as soon as I have time. Done the easy stuff already (permissions, onyx). I thought I would give Apple a chance to find the problem and if it's hardware, replace it.

Great machine though, crazy good wifi.

I'm guessing that this is firmware related, since it seems to be affecting a noticeable number of people here and on the Apple support boards. In any case, with mine, it was happening quite a lot. What made it "reliably" reproducible was making sure that the computer went to sleep, and not just the display. Actually, while I was backing it up before exchanging it, I deliberately set the Computer Sleep option to 3 hours and the Display Sleep option to 15 minutes. I did not have any issues during that time. However, after I was done I deleted everything from the defective one and closed the lid. When I brought it back to Apple the next day, it happened again and they processed the exchange.

I did the Migrate Assistant on my new MacBook Air from the Time Machine backup of the defective one, and so far it's been OK.

 

[jamespa66]

I'm taking my 13" in to the Genius Bar later today. Problem where display doesn't come up when waking the machine, also get a "corrupted" display sometimes as well when waking.

 

[mac&cheesey]

13" / 2.13 / 4GB / 256GB replaced

I received my MBA by UPS last Friday. Did a Time Machine restore overnight. Used the MBA the next day and had at least 6 kernel panics and 3 other total system freezes. Tried to reinstall the OS but when I booted from the USB stick the MBA couldn't see it's own SSD in Disk Utility. Called AppleCare on Sunday and took it into the Genius Bar on Sunday as well. Walked out with a new machine, same specs. The Genius (Andrew at the Pacific Centre store in Vancouver, who was very helpful BTW) ran some tests on the machine and confirmed that there were issues with the logic board and some sensors.

On my new MBA I did a clean install and did not bring the Time Machine backup over. Just started fresh. I doubt that was a contributing factor though. I think I just got a lemon at first.

New machine has no issues and is working very well, as expected. I'm very happy with my switch from the aluminum unibody MB (the so-called "collectors' edition").

m&c

 

[poiuyt1]

Having sleep problems but haven't replaced MBA

I've been having similar problems with waking my 13" MBA. But they've been sporadic and at worst I've had to power down then power back up.

On top of that, a few days ago, I put the machine to sleep at work and brought it home, only to discover a couple of hours later that it had been running in the laptop sleeve. It was pretty hot and wouldn't wake up, so I turned it off, waited for it to cool down, and turned it back on.

I called Apple Support and the support rep, while very nice, told me in no uncertain terms that I shouldn't be carrying a sleeping laptop around with me. I said I'd been doing that with my 2006 Macbook for 4 years and rarely had a problem with it. He said I was lucky -- it could have come back from sleep, overheated, and damaged the drive and/or the circuitry.

This doesn't make sense to me. I usually have several apps open (often with multiple windows) and want to be able to pick up where I left off, not shut the machine down every time I plan to take my laptop somewhere -- isn't that the point of a laptop?

 

[KPOM]

I called Apple Support and the support rep, while very nice, told me in no uncertain terms that I shouldn't be carrying a sleeping laptop around with me. I said I'd been doing that with my 2006 Macbook for 4 years and rarely had a problem with it. He said I was lucky -- it could have come back from sleep, overheated, and damaged the drive and/or the circuitry.

It sounds like you're being given a line. While I usually check my notebooks (particularly my Windows notebooks) to make sure they are truly "asleep" before putting them in a sleeve or bag (I've had errant Windows apps prevent notebooks from going to sleep and pulled out hot notebooks with 0 battery 2 hours later), once it's asleep, the point is to take it with you.

I see you are in New York. I'd make an appointment with the Genius Bar. The people at the UWS store were pretty helpful, although that store is always busy.

 

[poiuyt1]

Exactly

...the point is to take it with you.

I see you are in New York. I'd make an appointment with the Genius Bar. The people at the UWS store were pretty helpful, although that store is always busy.

My sentiment exactly. If it happens again, I will visit my local geniuses.

 

[cygy2k]

On my 4th 13" Ultimate...

1st = Command key didn't function at all.

2nd = Screen was a grey color even after calibration, really bad.

3rd = Made a mechanical clicking sound at a regular interval - sounded like a faulty fan.

 

[G550 Pilot]

Replaced my 11" today at the Apple Store....Airpot went inop and died.

 

[loslosbaby]

I bought my 13 ultimate 3 last week on the 12th and its going gangbusters (faster than my pre-uni MBP17 2.5/4/320!).

Good luck to all!

G.

 

[KPOM]

So far, my unscientific results are that more than 2/3 of you aren't having any issues. Of those reporting issues, most of you have 13" models.

 

[MacModMachine]

So far, my unscientific results are that more than 2/3 of you aren't having any issues. Of those reporting issues, most of you have 13" models.

yep, even more problems if you use a apple cinema display, seems to almost always result in a graphics glitch of some sort.

new logic boards seem to have the issue fixed so far in my tests.

 

[gwsat]

I voted in the poll several days ago but had failed to post here until now. I have had my 13 inch MBA for 4 weeks and it has been perfect. There has been no creaking, lose hinges, slow Airport, nor any of the myriad other problems posters have been reporting in various threads. (Knock wood!)

 

[loslosbaby]

(I guess the folks from Oklahoma get on at roughly the same time, so here's the report from our delegation in the great state of Oklahoma)

I've had my MBA13-Ult. for three weeks now, on the ACD27, and its awesome. As we say in SE OK, "I'm fixin'" (immediately preparing) to put on the wrapsol, and ditch my HUGE 17" sized backback for a shoulder bag, and I'm going to love it!

G.

 

[gonzoguy24]

I voted in the poll several days ago but had failed to post here until now. I have had my 13 inch MBA for 4 weeks and it has been perfect. There has been no creaking, lose hinges, slow Airport, nor any of the myriad other problems posters have been reporting in various threads. (Knock wood!)

Can I swap with you??!! Hahaha JK. I am going tomorrow to most likely have my Air replaced for a second time...it is a CTO so I may have to wait another week without an Air. I really hope they compensate me in some way for the inconvenience. I still love the machine...it is a beautiful piece of hardware!

 

[wirelessmacuser]

Previously, I've had every other iPhone and over a dozen PowerBooks / MacBook Pros, all were excellent. The few times there were issues, all were minor in comparison and all were easily resolved without having to return / exchange the entire product.

I'm on my _Third_ 13" MBA replacement.

This one seems good so far, but who knows what tomorrow will bring. I've lost a lot of confidence in Apples quality control in the past year.

In addition, I'm on my _Fourth_ iPhone 4.

This, is just stupid...

 

[Nero Wolfe]

Yes, my 11.6" (base model) had to be replaced. It had a display issue where there were horizontal lines across the entire display, almost like every other row of pixels was either too dark or too light. It was like looking out a window through blinds.

Unfortunately, though the Genius guy I saw agreed it was defective, I had purchased it at Best Buy and had to go to them to exchange it. That was a major hassle since I had to drive to 3 different stores to find one that actually had a replacement in stock. As an aside, Best Buys' inventory tracking system sucks! They never really know exactly what they actually have in stock.

But I did eventually get it swapped out and the replacement is perfect.

 

[aussie.damo]

My 11 was replaced. Bought it, took it home, plugged it in, pressed the power button and... nothing. Pressed it again, after about 20 seconds it displayed the apple logo then turned off. Turned itself on again after another few seconds and booted into the setup program.

I completed setup, hit the desktop and noticed that the battery icon had an 'X' through it. Clicking on the battery icon indicated that there were no batteries present. A few reboots later, nothing had changed. The power adapter light was constantly green, unusual for a BNIB Mac. I pulled the cord and the machine died instantly.

Packed it all up, took it back to the store and got a replacement. I only live 10 minutes walk from the local apple reseller, so all up I owned that Mac for just 30 minutes! The staff were great, extremely apologetic for the problem (despite me insisting that it wasn't their fault!)

New one is perfect.

Damo

 

[gwsat]

(I guess the folks from Oklahoma get on at roughly the same time, so here's the report from our delegation in the great state of Oklahoma)

I've had my MBA13-Ult. for three weeks now, on the ACD27, and its awesome. As we say in SE OK, "I'm fixin'" (immediately preparing) to put on the wrapsol, and ditch my HUGE 17" sized backback for a shoulder bag, and I'm going to love it!

Glad your 13 inch Ultimate MBA is working out for you. I have been loving mine, too. Where did you get yours? The Penn Square Apple Store in OKC had a 13 inch Ultimate in stock and I bought it.

Can I swap with you??!! Hahaha JK. I am going tomorrow to most likely have my Air replaced for a second time...it is a CTO so I may have to wait another week without an Air. I really hope they compensate me in some way for the inconvenience. I still love the machine...it is a beautiful piece of hardware!

The MBA is my third Mac. I bought the first one, a Powerbook G4, 8 years ago and the second one, a MBP, three years ago. The only repair the PB has ever needed was to replace the cable connecting the graphics card to the display and that didn't happen until I had been using the PB for four years. After a couple of years the MBP's logic board failed and had to be replaced but that repair was covered by Applecare. I just hope the MBA turns out to be as reliable as the other two have been.